Zweli Mkhize gets most nominations as Ramaphosa’s deputy, Sisulu snubbed

African National Congress presidential hopeful and treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize is reportedly emerging as an alternative to serve as deputy president in the Cyril Ramaphosa slate ahead of the ANC’s national conference in December, the Sowetan reports.

According to the report, Mkhize has recently made inroads in Eastern Cape, Limpopo and his home province, KwaZulu-Natal.

While Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu – one of the seven ANC presidential hopefuls – was initially favoured to be Ramaphosa’s deputy, her recent questioning of ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe’s struggle credentials has apparently angered many ANC members, as well as Ramaphosa’s supporters.

• Mkhize has been reportedly nominated for the deputy president post by the Milo Malatjie branch in the Peter Mokaba region of Limpopo.
• The Ntsizwa branch in the Alfred Nzo region of Eastern Cape nominated Mkhize to succeed President Jacob Zuma as the next ANC leader, while Ramaphosa was nominated as Mkhize’s deputy.
• Mantashe has been tipped for the position of ANC national chairperson. Former ANC KZN chairperson Senzo Mchunu has been nominated for the secretary-general position.
• Gauteng ANC chairperson Paul Mashatile was nominated for the treasurer-general position, and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise, was nominated as the deputy secretary-general.
• The ANC Amakhabela branch in the Inkosi Bhambatha region in KZN nominated Mkhize to be Ramaphosa’s deputy.
• The ANC Ivory Park branch in the Greater Johannesburg region also nominated Mkhize as Ramaphosa’s second-in-command.

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